Article 1. General of California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 6. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.

This chapter may be cited as the District Organization Law.

It is the purpose of this chapter to make available a procedure for the organization, operation and government of districts.

This chapter applies only when and to the extent that it is adopted or incorporated by reference in a law providing for a particular district or type of district.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
  (a) "District" means a tax or assessment district.
  (b) "Governing body" means the board of directors of a district or equivalent board or body.
  (c) "Principal act" means the law providing for the creation of a particular district or type of district.
  (d) "Supervising authority" means the board of supervisors of the county in which is situated all or most of the land in a district, or body authorized by law to initiate or hear proceedings for the creation of a district.
  (e) "Project" means the work, improvement, or acquisition, or any combination thereof undertaken by a district.
  (f) "Owner" includes joint owner, co-owner, guardian, executor, administrator, or other person holding property in trust under court appointment.
  (g) "Requisite number of petitioners" means the number of qualified petitioners prescribed by the principal act.
  (h) "Requisite number of protestants" means the number of qualified protestants prescribed by the principal act.
  (i) "Clerk" means the clerk of the supervising authority.

Whenever in this chapter a petition, order, resolution, complaint, or other document refers to a principal act, the name, if any, of the principal act, with its citation shall be set forth in such document.

When this chapter or the principal act requires publication of a notice, publication shall be in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated within the district, or if there is none, in the newspaper of general circulation published nearest to the district.

Unless otherwise expressly provided, each notice shall be published once a week for three successive weeks prior to the date set for the event of which notice is given.

Proof of publication may be by affidavit of the owner, publisher, printer, or clerk of the newspaper. The affidavit is prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it.

If a district is situated in a county in which no newspaper of general circulation is published, the notice shall be posted in three public places in the district for the same period as if published.

Proof of posting may be by affidavit of the person posting the notice. The affidavit is prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it.

In case of a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the law providing for the creation of a particular district or type of district, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.